Busy: Tackling the Problem of an Overloaded Christian Life

“Ian Carmichael speaks into our common slavery to busyness, and charts the only road to freedom—not by providing more tips on time management, but by thinking deeply about who we are as humans, and understanding God’s busyness in his plan of redemption. Ian shows us that we are slaves to busyness because we don’t believe the gospel. He is disarmingly honest, confronting and warmly conversational at the same time, anticipating our questions and objections. He provides very practical reflections for personal change towards godly busyness for employees, church members, parents, children, husbands, wives and siblings. I can see radical implications for how we think about retirement. This book is comprehensive.”

“Ian Carmichael’s book Busy is refreshingly clear and to the point. It helps us re-examine the purpose of life while we wait for the new creation—that is, Christ-directed busyness and rest. Ian’s relationship audit exercise is insightful and practical for applying the biblical principles given in the first half of the book: Step 1: Identify our key relationships. Step 2: Reflect on how we can be more intentional in seeing these precious people transferred into God’s kingdom and transformed into the likeness of Jesus. Medical experts recommend booking annual health checks. I recommend buying and reading this book as an excellent yearly spiritual health check.”

“Ian Carmichael’s Busy is a wonderful read. It’s full of biblical wisdom, warmth, humour and grace. Most importantly it will help you think about how God’s kindness in Jesus rearranges our priorities and helps us be busy in a healthy way for God. It’s a book born of a life lived serving Jesus and putting the Bible into practice. It’s a book that will encourage you to rest in God, work hard for Christ, and put busyness into perspective. I encourage you to grab a copy, read it, and live it! It might just turn ‘busy’ into joyful service.”

“Busy is not what I expected but it’s exactly what I needed, and I suspect it’s what many of us need. Challenging me to rethink not only Monday-Fridays, Ian also really pushed me to think again about my Sundays (and I say this as a pastor!). I pray this book will be given to every Christian, from new to mature, with the hope that all of them will consider how they themselves are answers to the prayer of Matthew 9:37-38—a call to be busy with work for the harvest.”